A Meaningful Joint Exhibition By Near East University and Gazi University Aiming To Reveal The National Struggle Of Turkish Cypriots With Art …
Date Added: 01 June 2019, 19:39
Last Updated Date:18 November 2020, 16:12

The project titled “Traces of the Turkish Cypriots Struggle for the Existence of Struggle in the Art" is being implemented in collaboration with the Near East University and Gazi University. Within the scope of the project, the Turkish Cypriots who fell in the freedom struggle while continuing their education in Turkey or after graduation, will be commemorated with the  exhibition titled "A Gift To Cypriot Heroes, Mixed Exhibition of Existence of Turkish Cypriots".

According to the press statement made by the Near East University Press and Public Relations Directorate,  an information meeting was held in Ankara Gazi University before the exhibition to commemorate the Turkish Cypriots who fell  in the struggle of Turkish Cypriot.

Kemal Köprülü, Ambassador of the TRNC to Turkey,  Prof. Dr. İbrahim Uslan, Rector of Gazi University,  Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, Vice Rector of Near East University, Prof. Dr. Ali Efdal Özkul, Cyprus Turkish National History Museum Director and the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences,   Prof. Dr. Alev Çakmakoğlu, Head of the Department of Art Education, Gazi University, Faculty of Education, Department of Fine Arts Education attended to the meeting.

The exhibition will be held in memory of the martyrs of Cyprus...
Within the framework of the cooperation protocol, the exhibition titled "A Gift To Cypriot Heroes, Mixed Exhibition of Existence of Turkish Cypriots" will be held under the auspices of  the Embassy of Turkey in Nicosia and the TRNC  Embassy in Ankara  on 21-25 December 2019 due to the National Struggle and Martyrs Week. The artworks to be exhibited in the exhibition will be presented to the Cyprus Turkish National History Museum.

Ambassador Köprülü: " The existence struggle of Turkish Cypriots will be the subject of art works..."
Speaking at the information meeting held at the Senate Meeting Hall of the Gazi University Rectorate, TRNC Ankara Ambassador Kemal Köprülü stressed that the project to be implemented in cooperation with Gazi University and Near East University is of great importance for the TRNC.

Mr. Köprülü stated that the said project will both ensure that the events are not forgotten and that the meaning of the struggle of the Turkish Cypriot community will be transferred to the younger generations. Köprülü said, "Among the graduates of Gazi University, there are many martyrs of Turkish Cypriots such as Hüseyin Ruso, Turgut Sıtkı, Hüseyin Salih Bora, Mehmet Mustafa, Kemal Özalper.  By the initiative of our professors, the national struggle of existence will be reflected in the art works of  our precious artists and with this event, it will be ensured that the days of our struggle will have a more permanent place in the memory of our young generations. The realization of the project will also encourage an expression of respect and gratitude to all the heroes who fought for the sake of their people and country, and for overcoming the dark days and coming to our present days.


Rector of Gazi University, Prof.  Dr. Uslan Ibrahim in his speech at the meeting, drew attention to the strategic importance of Turkey for the TRNC.
Prof. Dr. İbrahim said "Among the graduates of Gazi University, many Turkish Cypriots were martyred for their homeland. They were also immortalized in the Martyrs' Memorial in Gazi with 40 other martyrs. The Turkish Cypriot people continue to struggle for peace, security and well-being in order to exist as an honorable people in the world. The art works that will be prepared by Gazi Education Faculty Painting Department will be a monumental figure of those who marched on way to martyrdom."

Prof. Dr. Uslan: "The works of art will be the monuments of those who marched to God..."
Rector of Gazi University, Prof.  Dr. Uslan Ibrahim in his speech at the meeting, drew attention to the strategic importance of Turkey for the TRNC.  Prof. Dr. İbrahim said "Among the graduates of Gazi University, many Turkish Cypriots were martyred for their homeland. They were also immortalized in the Martyrs' Memorial in Gazi with 40 other martyrs. The Turkish Cypriot people continue to struggle for peace, security and well-being in order to exist as an honorable people in the world. The art works that will be prepared by Gazi Education Faculty Painting Department will be a monumental figure of those who marched on way to martyrdom."

Prof. Dr. Şanlıdağ: "We meet through the unifying power of art..."
Vice Rector of Near East University Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlidağ, stating that they are together due to the unifying power of art, pointed out that with this project, the events and heroes of the events consisting of the Cyprus Turkish National History will come to life with documents and photographs.

Prof. Şanlıdağ said "Today we are together in the name of the unifying power of art. As part of an important project that we started about 8 months ago, we  are building an art bridge extending from Central Asia to the Mediterranean. As of today, approximately 45 workshops and 45 exhibitions have been held on Near East University campus throughout a time of  7 months. Let the unifying and healing power of art is always be with us."

Prof. Dr. Kuru: "We want to share the historical events of Turkish Cypriots with the language of art and share them with the world public...“
Prof. Dr. Alev Cakmakoglu Kuru,  Head of Department of Fine Arts Education, Faculty of Education,  Gazi University, also said that Gazi University will contribute to the Cyprus Turkish National History Museum of Near East University, with a project titled the "Traces of the Turkish Cypriots Struggle in Art".

Prof. Dr. Kuru stating that among the graduates of the institution, there are Turkish Cypriot martyrs who fell for sake of their people and their land, said "Kemal Özalper, born in Malatya, a graduate of Gazi University, worked as a teacher in Cyprus and was killed during the production of a bomb to support the Turkish Resistance Organization. The ties of the entire Turkish world, which are important for the motherland Turkey,  and Cyprus in particular, are more meaningful with the martyrs graduated from Gazi University.  With this project, our aim is to express the historical events of Turkish Cypriots with the language of art and memoirs of the martyrs, veterans, casualties and heroes. In order to explain the struggles of the Turkish Cypriots and to avoid the recurrence of the suffering, the project aims to share the works of the project with the world and to be a light for future generations."


Professor Dr. Özkul: "The project if of great importance..."
Founding President of the Cyprus Turkish National History Museum and the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences,  Prof. Dr. Ali Efdal Özkul said that the struggle of existence of Turkish Cypriot people that has been continuing for decades on this land, the roots of Turkish Cypriots, and their cultural values as well as the heritage as the legacy of war, will all be exhibited in the Cyprus Turkish National History Museum which will be opened in 2020.

Özkul pointed out that the Turkish Cypriot National History Museum, which will shed light on the history of Turkish Cypriots' existence struggle in Cyprus, and which will become the largest and most comprehensive history museum in Cyprus, will surely provide a better understanding of the recent past.  Prof. Özkul also stated that they are very delighted to share such an important project with  Gazi University.